1. Yes.

2. There doesn't need to be a "why."

But just because God is the creator of tsunami, doesn't mean that God intended the death of innocent lives. Rabbi Michael Lerner, in his magazine Tikkun (January 5, 2005), writes:

"We need to stop thinking of God as some big man up in heaven sitting there and making individual judgments about . . . where he should put a tsunami and where he should put a beautiful sunset."

If we look for reasons why innocent people suffer, we will be left without a satisfying answer. When we discuss the horrors of the Shoah, and we question why God allowed 6 million Jews to perish, we can at least understand that their deaths were caused by the evil choices and actions of human beings. But when a tragedy of nature takes thousands of innocent lives, or when cancer attacks the life of you or your loved one, there is no rational explanation, no answer to the question, "Why?"

What we can answer is, "What can I do about it?"

When you, or someone you care about, is diagnosed with a serious illness, you can dwell on the tragic blow dealt to an innocent human life, or you can begin the process of healing and/or helping. In our congregation alone, we have seen far too many families coping with serious illness, and far too many relatives and friends needing to change their daily schedules in order to do what is necessary for someone in need of extra assistance. But you have coped, and you have pitched in to help.

Similarly, when tragedy strikes our brothers and sisters of the world--in Southeast Asia, in Sudan, and many other places where human lives are in danger--we have a choice. We can bemoan the tragedy, or we can count ourselves among those who step forward to make a difference, and help God bring about tikun olam, which means "repairing the world."

Just as it would be unwise to focus on blaming God for our misfortunes, it is also a mistake to use personal or communal tragedy as a time to lose faith and turn away from God. Whether it is one's body or one's world that is suffering, we must not forget that God's blessing throughout the years far outweighs the illness or catastrophe. When in pain, question God and challenge God, but don't ignore the wonder of God's creation which works to our benefit the majority of the time.

If you have not yet done so, and you would like to give financial assistance to those in need, please send your contributions to the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, through the following address:

"JDC: South Asia Tsunami Relief" or "JDC: Jewish Coalition for Sudan Relief"
Box 321
847A Second Avenue
New York, NY 10017